Acid reflux occurs in infants when the stomach contents leak from the child's stomach into her esophagus after eating. More than 50 percent of babies will have acid reflux within the first three months of life, according to MedlinePlus. Symptoms include excessive crying, forceful vomiting, refusing to eat and wheezing. If your child has recurring acid reflux, work with your pediatrician to find a suitable treatment.
Feeding Modifications
Feeding your infant smaller and frequent meals can help relieve her reflux. If you bottle feed your infant, check the size of the bottle nipple. Nipples come in different sizes, depending on the baby's age. If you use a nipple that's too large, your baby might swallow extra air, which can make reflux symptoms worse. Also, hold your baby upright during feedings, rather than allowing her to lie down.
Baby Positioning
After meals, don't put your infant to bed. Instead, allow her to sit upright during and after feeding. You can either sit her on your lap or use an infant carrier. Gravity helps the contents of your infant's stomach stay in place, rather than backing up and causing reflux.
Milk Thickening
Talk with your doctor about thickening your formula or breast milk. Adding a small amount of rice cereal to your baby's milk can relieve symptoms of reflux. If you're using a bottle, you might need to make the hole a little larger so the thicker milk can get through.
Medication
If feeding changes aren't working, your infant's pediatrician might recommend prescription medication. Medications such as cimetidine and ranitidine are commonly used for infants with acid reflux, according to MayoClinic.com. Discuss the risks of these medications with your infant's pediatrician. Risks include respiratory and intestinal infection. Prolonged use of these medications also might result in increased risk for hip, spine and wrist fractures as adults.
Surgery
Surgery is a last resort for infants who suffer from severe acid reflux that interferes with breathing and ability to grow. During this procedure a doctor will tighten the lower esophageal sphincter muscle to prevent back flow into your infant's esophagus. Discuss the surgery risks with your doctor, which includes gagging during feedings.
